A Guide to Registration Numbers

The Registration Number section of this Register is primarily aimed as an access gateway into the main register, and as an aid to identifying cars and their history, including upgrades, etc. The listings of registration numbers has been assembled strictly in alphanumerical and numerical sequence for the whole registration number of each vehicle in this Register.

We have also tried to aid the reader, who, faced with a chassis number of up to 15 letters and numbers, may find difficulty in identifying which model of Aston Martin they are researching, by including a “model” description beside each registration number.

It may, however, be of interest to understand the way Registration Numbers are presented by the Licencing Authorities, and be helpful to have a “potted” history of how they have evolved in the UK from very simple one letter, one number, through to our present day format, and the information that each registration contains.

Up to 1963

The Motor Car Act of 1903 required all self-propelled vehicles to be clearly identifiable and as a result “A1” was issued by the London County Council in January of 1904. As the number of vehicles grew, the available number combinations diminished, and this format was quickly followed by double-digit letters and up to four numbers, “AA 1234” etc.

By the mid 1930’s this format of numbering, especially in the higher population density areas of the country, became somewhat stretched, and thereafter three letters with up to three numbers came into force, “AAA 123” etc.

In the mid 50’s, some licencing authorities were again experiencing difficulties, and as a result the registration number format was reversed, “123 AAA” etc.

This system worked well for over thirty years, and at the same time identified the original licencing authority of the vehicle using the last two letters of the Registration Number, as the following list of licencing offices indicates:

A

London

HU

Bristol

RN

Preston

AA

Bournemouth

HV

LondonC

RO

Luton

AB

Worcester

HX

Bristol

RP

Northampton

AC

Coventry

HY

Bristol

RR

Nottingham

AD

Gloucester

J

Durham

RS

Aberdeen

AE

Bristol

JA

Manchester

RT

Ipswich

AF

Truro

JB

Reading

RV

Portsmouth

AG

Ayrshire

JC

Bangor

RU

Bournemouth

AH

Norwich

JD

LondonC

RV

Portsmouth

AJ

Middlesborough

JE

Peterborough

RW

Coventry

AK

Sheffield

JF

Leicester

RX

Reading

AL

Nottingham

JG

Maidstone

RY

Leicester

AM

Swindon

JH

Reading

S

Edinburgh

AN

Reading

JJ

Maidstone

SA

Aberdeen

AO

Carlisle

JK

Brighton

SB

Glasgow

AP

Brighton

JL

Lincoln

SC

Edinburgh

AR

Chelmsford

JM

Reading

SD

Glasgow

AS

Inverness

JN

Chelmsford

SE

Aberdeen

AT

Hull

JO

Oxford

SF

Edinburgh

AU

Nottingham

JP

Liverpool

SG

Edinburgh

AV

Peterborough

JR

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

SH

Edinburgh

AW

Shrewsbury

JS

Inverness

SJ

Glasgow

AX

Cardiff

JT

Bournemouth

SK

Inverness

AY

Leicester

JU

Leicester

SL

Dundee

AZ

Belfast

JV

Lincoln

SM

Carlisle

B

Lancashire

JW

Birmingham

SN

Dundee

BA

Manchester

JX

Huddersfield

SO

Aberdeen

BB

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

JY

Exeter

SP

Dundee

BC

Leicester

JZ

Down

SR

Dundee

BD

Northampton

K

Liverpool

SS

Aberdeen

BE

Lincoln

KA

Liverpool

ST

Inverness

BF

Stoke-on-Trent

KB

Liverpool

SU

Glasgow

BG

Liverpool

KC

Liverpool

SV

Kinross-shire

BH

Luton

KD

Liverpool

SW

Carlisle

BJ

Ipswich

KE

Maidstone

SX

Edinburgh

BK

Portsmouth

KF

Liverpool

SY

Midlothian

BL

Reading

KG

Cardiff

T

Devon

BM

Luton

KH

Hull

TA

Exeter

BN

Manchester

KJ

Maidstone

TB

Liverpool

BO

Cardiff

KK

Maidstone

TC

Bristol

BP

Portsmouth

KL

Maidstone

TD

Manchester

BR

Newcastle

KM

Maidstone

TE

Manchester

BS

Inverness

KN

Maidstone

TF

Reading

BT

Leeds

KO

Maidstone

TG

Cardiff

BU

Manchester

KP

Maidstone

TH

Swansea

BV

Preston

KR

Maidstone

TJ

Liverpool

BW

Oxford

KS

Edinburgh

TK

Exeter

BX

Haverfordwest

KT

Maidstone

TL

Lincoln

BY

LondonNW

KU

Sheffield

TM

Luton

BZ

Down

KV

Coventry

TN

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

C

YorkshireWR

KW

Sheffield

TO

Nottingham

CA

Chester

KX

Luton

TP

Portsmouth

CB

Manchester

KY

Sheffield

TR

Portsmouth

CC

Bangor

L

Glamorgan

TS

Dundee

CD

Brighton

LA

LondonNW

TT

Exeter

CE

Peterborough

LB

LondonNW

TU

Chester

CF

Reading

LC

LondonNW

TV

Nottingham

CG

Bournemouth

LD

LondonNW

TX

Cardiff

CH

Nottingham

LE

LondonNW

TY

Newcastle

CJ

Gloucester

LF

LondonNW

TZ

Belfast

CK

Preston

LG

Chester

U

Leeds

CL

Norwich

LG

Chester

UA

Leeds

CM

Liverpool

LH

LondonNW

UB

Leeds

CN

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

LJ

Bournemouth

UC

LondonC

CO

Exeter

LK

LondonNW

UD

Oxford

CP

Huddersfield

LL

LondonNW

UE

Dudley

CR

Portsmouth

LM

LondonNW

UF

Brighton

CS

Glasgow

LN

LondonNW

UG

Leeds

CT

Lincoln

LO

LondonNW

UH

Cardiff

CU

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

LP

LondonNW

UJ

Shrewsbury

CV

Truro

LR

LondonNW

UK

Birmingham

CW

Preston

LS

Edinburgh

UL

LondonC

CX

Huddersfield

LT

LondonNW

UM

Leeds

CY

Swansea

LU

LondonNW

UN

Exeter

CZ

Belfast

LV

Liverpool

UO

Exeter

D

Kent

LW

LondonNW

UP

Newcastle

DA

Birmingham

LX

LondonNW

UR

Luton

DB

Manchester

LY

LondonNW

US

Glasgow

DC

Middlesborough

M

Cheshire

UT

Leicester

DD

Gloucester

MA

Chester

UU

LondonC

DE

Haverfordwest

MB

Chester

UV

LondonC

DF

Gloucester

MC

LondonNE

UW

LondonC

DG

Gloucester

MD

LondonNE

UX

Shrewsbury

DH

Dudley

ME

LondonNE

UY

Worcester

DJ

Liverpool

MF

LondonNE

UZ

Belfast

DK

Manchester

MG

LondonNE

V

Lanarkshire

DL

Portsmouth

MH

LondonNE

VA

Peterborough

DM

Chester

MJ

Luton

VB

Maidstone

DN

Leeds

MK

LondonNE

VC

Coventry

DO

Lincoln

ML

LondonNE

VD

Lanark

DP

Reading

MM

LondonNE

VE

Peterborough

DR

Exeter

MP

London

VF

Norwich

DS

Glasgow

MO

Reading

VG

Norwich

DT

Sheffield

MP

LondonNE

VH

Huddersfield

DU

Coventry

MR

Swindon

VJ

Gloucester

DV

Exeter

MS

Edinburgh

VK

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

DW

Cardiff

MT

LondonNE

VL

Lincoln

DX

Ipswich

MU

LondonNE

VM

Manchester

DY

Brighton

MV

LondonNE

VN

Middlesbrough

DZ

Antrim

MW

Swindon

VO

Nottingham

E

Staffordshire

MX

LondonNE

VP

Birmingham

EA

Dudley

MY

LondonNE

VR

Manchester

EB

Peterborough

MZ

Belfast

VS

Glasgow

EC

Preston

N

Manchester

VT

Stoke-on-Trent

ED

Liverpool

NA

Manchester

VU

Manchester

EE

Lincoln

NB

Manchester

VV

Northampton

EF

Middlesbrough

NC

Manchester

VW

Chelmsford

EG

Peterborough

ND

Manchester

VX

Chelmsford

EH

Stoke-on-Trent

NE

Manchester

VY

Leeds

EJ

Bangor

NF

Manchester

W

Sheffield

EK

Liverpool

NG

Norwich

WA

Sheffield

EL

Bournemouth

NH

Northampton

WB

Sheffield

EM

Liverpool

NJ

Brighton

WC

Chelmsford

EN

Manchester

NK

Luton

WD

Dudley

EO

Preston

NL

Newcastle

WE

Sheffield

EP

Swansea

NM

Luton

WF

Sheffield

ER

Peterborough

NN

Nottingham

WG

Sheffield

ES

Dundee

NO

Chelmsford

WH

Manchester

ET

Sheffield

NP

Worcester

WJ

Sheffield

EU

Bristol

NR

Leicester

WK

Coventry

EV

Chelmsford

NS

Glasgow

WL

Oxford

EW

Peterborough

NT

Shrewsbury

WM

Liverpool

EX

Norwich

NU

Nottingham

WN

Swansea

EY

Bangor

NV

Northampton

WO

Cardiff

EZ

Belfast

NW

Leeds

WP

Worcester

F

Essex

NX

Dudley

WR

Leeds

FA

Stoke-on-Trent

NY

Cardiff

WS

Leith

FB

Bristol

O

Birmingham

WT

Leeds

FC

Oxford

OA

Birmingham

WU

Leeds

FD

Dudley

OB

Birmingham

WV

Brighton

FE

Lincoln

OC

Birmingham

WW

Leeds

FF

Bangor

OD

Exeter

WX

Leeds

FG

Brighton

OE

Birmingham

WY

Leeds

FH

Gloucester

OF

Birmingham

WZ

Belfast

FJ

Exeter

OG

Birmingham

X

Northumberland

FK

Dudley

OH

Birmingham

XA

London

FL

Peterborough

OJ

Birmingham

XB

London

FM

Chester

OK

Birmingham

XC

London

FN

Maidstone

OL

Birmingham

XD

London

FO

Gloucester

OM

Birmingham

XE

London

FP

Leicester

ON

Birmingham

XF

London

FR

Preston

OO

Chelmsford

XG

Middlesbrough

FS

Edinburgh

OP

Birmingham

XH

London

FT

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

OR

Portsmouth

XI

Belfast

FU

Lincoln

OS

Glasgow

XJ

Manchester

FV

Preston

OT

Portsmouth

XK

London

FW

Lincoln

OU

Bristol

XL

London

FX

Bournemouth

OV

Birmingham

XM

London

FY

Liverpool

OX

Birmingham

XN

London

FZ

Belfast

OW

Southampton

XO

London

G

Glasgow

OY

LondonNW

XP

London

GA

Glasgow

OZ

Belfast

XR

London

GB

Glasgow

P

Surrey

XS

Paisley

GC

LondonSW

PA

Guildford

XT

London

GD

Glasgow

PB

Guildford

XU

London

GE

Glasgow

PC

Guildford

XV

London

GF

LondonSW

PD

Guildford

XW

London

GG

Glasgow

PE

Guildford

XY

London

GH

LondonSW

PF

Guildford

Y

Somerset

GJ

LondonSW

PG

Guildford

YA

Taunton

GK

LondonSW

PH

Guildford

YB

Taunton

GL

Truro

PJ

Guildford

YC

Taunton

GM

Reading

PK

Guildford

YD

Taunton

GN

LondonSW

PL

Guildford

YE

LondonC

GO

LondonSW

PM

Guildford

YF

LondonC

GP

LondonSW

PN

Brighton

YG

Leeds

GR

Newcastle

PO

Portsmouth

YH

LondonC

GS

Luton

PP

Luton

YJ

Brighton

GT

LondonSW

PR

Bournemouth

YK

LondonC

GU

LondonSE

PS

Aberdeen

YL

LondonC

GV

Ipswich

PT

Newcastle

YM

LondonC

GW

LondonSE

PU

Chelmsford

YN

LondonC

GX

LondonSE

PV

Ipswich

YO

LondonC

GY

LondonSE

PW

Norwich

YP

LondonC

GZ

Belfast

PX

Portsmouth

YR

LondonC

H

London

PY

Middlesbrough

YS

Glasgow

HA

Dudley

PZ

Belfast

YT

LondonC

HB

Cardiff

Q

NumberswithQ

YU

LondonC

HC

Brighton

aretemporaryor

YV

LondonC

HD

Huddersfield

one-offspecials

YW

LondonC

HE

Sheffield

R

Derbyshire

YX

LondonC

HF

Liverpool

RA

Nottingham

YY

LondonC

HG

Preston

RB

Nottingham

Z

Dublin

HH

Carlisle

RC

Nottingham

ZA

Dublin

HJ

Chelmsford

RD

Reading

ZC

Dublin

HK

Chelmsford

RE

Stoke-on-Trent

ZD

Dublin

HL

Sheffield

RF

Stoke-on-Trent

ZE

Dublin

HM

LondonC

RG

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

ZG

Dublin

HN

Middlesbrough

RH

Hull

ZH

Dublin

HO

Bournemouth

RJ

Manchester

ZJ

Dublin

HP

Coventry

RK

LondonNW

ZL

Dublin

HR

Swindon

RL

Truro

ZO

Dublin

HS

Glasgow

RP

Northampton

ZU

Dublin

HT

Bristol

RM

Carlisle

1963 to 1983

While the last two letter identifiers remained, the number plate format again changed in 1963, this time with a suffix letter being added, indicating a particular year, starting in February of 1963. “AAA123 C” would indicate that the vehicle was originally registered in Bournemouth between January and December 1965.

In 1967 the licencing authorities decided to make the registration year commence in August and as a result make the new suffix letter “F”, run from August 1967 to July 1968. The following list of “Suffix Numbers” indicate the appropriate years:

A

February 1963 to December 1963

L

August 1972 to July 1973

B

January 1964 to December 1964

M

August 1973 to July 1974

C

January 1965 to December 1965

N

August 1974 to July 1975

D

January 1966 to December 1966

P

August 1975 to July 1976

E

January 1967 to July 1967

R

August 1976 to July 1977

F

August 1967 to July 1968

S

August 1977 to July 1978

G

August 1968 to July 1969

T

August 1978 to July 1979

H

August 1969 to July 1970

V

August 1979 to July 1980

J

August 1970 to July 1971

W

August 1980 to July 1981

K

August 1971 to July 1972

X

August 1981 to July 1982

Y

August 1982 to July 1983

1983 to 2001

As a result of the alphabet “running out” in July 1983, the format was once again modified to drop the suffix, but include a prefix letter and at the same time reverse the registration number, “C123 AAA” etc. This, with one or two modifications for the car trade to try and offset a dearth of sales throughout the quiet half of the year, saw us up until August 2001, where it ran out with the prefix “Y”, as the following list shows:

A

August 1983 to July 1984

L

August 1993 to July 1994

B

August 1984 to July 1985

M

August 1994 to July 1995

C

August 1985 to July 1986

N

August 1995 to July 1996

D

August 1986 to July 1987

P

August 1996 to July 1997

E

August 1987 to July 1988

R

August 1997 to July 1998

F

August 1987 to July 1989

S

August 1998 to February 1999

G

August 1988 to July 1990

T

March 1999 to August 1999

H

August 1989 to July 1991

V

September 1999 to February 2000

J

August 1990 to July 1992

W

March 2000 to August 2000

K

August 1991 to July 1993

X

September 2000 to February 2001

Y

March 2001 to August 2001

2001 to Date

A major change in the format of Registration Numbering occurred in September 2001 with the introduction of an Area letter followed by a Local Office Identifier. This double lettering was followed by a double digit age identifier which changed every 6 months, in the months of September and March, the first indicating which half of the year with the second indicating the year of registration, followed by three totally random letters. Therefore “AA 57 AAA” would have been issued in the Area of Anglia at the Local Office of Peterborough between September 2007 and February 2008 as the following tables show:

Area Letter

Area

Local Office

DVLA Local Office Identifier

A

Anglia

Peterborough

A B C D E F G H J K L M N

Norwich

O P R S T U

Ipswich

V W X Y

B

Birmingham

Birmingham

A – Y

C

Cymru

Cardiff

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

Swansea

P R S T U V

Bangor

W X Y

D

Chester to Shrewsbury

Chester

A B C D E F G H J K

Shrewsbury

L M N O P R S T U V W X Y

E

Essex

Chelmsford

A – Y

F

Forrest & Fens

Nottingham

A B C D E F G H J K L M N P

Lincoln

R S T V W X Y

G

Garden of England

Maidstone

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

Brighton

P R S T U V W X Y

H

Hampshire & Dorset

Bournemouth

A B C D E F G H J

Portsmouth

K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y

K

Borehamwood

A B C D E F G H J K L

Northampton

M N O P R S T U V W X Y

L

London

Wimbledon

A B C D E F G H J

Borehamwood

K L M N O P R S T

Sidcup

U V W X Y

M

Manchester & Merseyside

Manchester

A – Y ( Except N & MAN Reserved for the Isle of Man )

N

North

Newcastle

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

Stockton

P R S T U V W X Y

O

Oxford

Oxford

A – Y

P

Preston

Preston

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T

Carlisle

U V W X Y

R

Reading

Theale

A – Y

S

Scotland

Glasgow

A B C D E F G H J

Edinburgh

K L M N O

Dundee

P R S T

Aberdeen

U V W

Inverness

X Y

V

Severn Valley

Worcester

A – Y

W

West of England

Exeter

A B C D E F G H J

Truro

K L

Bristol

M N O P R S T U V W X Y

Y

Yorkshire

Leeds

A B C D E F G H J K

Sheffield

L M N O P R S T U

Beverley

V W X Y

Note: The letters I, Q & Z are not used as Local Office Identifiers. The double digit Age Identifiers between the two groups of letters gives an indication, within 6 months, of when the vehicle was originally registered as the following table shows:

Date

Code

Date

Code

September 2001 – February 2002

51

March 2002 – August 2002

02

September 2002 – February 2003

53

March 2003 – August 2003

03

September 2003 – February 2004

53

March 2004 – August 2004

04

September 2004 – February 2005

54

March 2005 – August 2005

05

September 2005 – February 2006

55

March 2006 – August 2006

06

September 2006 – February 2007

56

March 2007 – August 2007

07

September 2007 – February 2008

57

March 2008 – August 2008

08

September 2008 – February 2009

58

March 2009 – August 2009

09

September 2009 – February 2010

59

March 2010 – August 2010

10

September 2010 – February 2011

60

March 2011 – August 2011

11

September 2011 – February 2012

61

March 2012 – August 2012

12

September 2012 – February 2013

62

This pattern of Area, Local office and Age Identifiers is intended to continue until all permutations are exhausted, somewhere about 2049, and when reversed will run through till 2099. Time enough to contemplate an even more complicated system.

Non-UK Registration Number Systems

As a comparison to the British registration format, we have given below a very brief introduction to a few of the world’s other registration formats:

Austria

The Registration plate normally commences with up to two letters indicating the Administration District which the vehicle was registered in, followed by the heraldic emblem of that Province and thereafter a mix of up to six numbers and or letters always ending with the letters.

Australia

The State the vehicle was registered in is normally “written” across the top or bottom of the plate with varying colour options being used. The normal format of numbering is now three letters followed by three numbers with the various States or Territories being “allocated” specific groupings depending on population densities.

France

The registration starts with two, three or four random numbers followed by two or three random letters and culminating with two numbers which indicated the Department or region the vehicle was registered in. On 15th October 2009, however, this format was changed to two letters, three numbers and two letters, each grouping separated by hyphens and all totally random, but with the addition of a blue strip on the extreme right hand side with the issuing department number and logo of the issuing region embossed on it.

Germany

The first two letters of the German registration indicate the City or Region the vehicle was registered in, followed by the safety and emission emblems, thereafter one or two letters followed by up to four numbers separated by a hyphen, both groupings being totally random.

Guernsey

Registrations in Guernsey have no letters whatsoever and up to six numbers, which are issued in numerical order.

Holland

The Dutch Registration format used to be three groupings of two letters or numbers, each group separated by a hyphen. In 2006 this format changed to up to two letters or numbers, followed by a group of three letters or numbers and a last group of two letters or numbers, again each group separated by a hyphen. Registrations were issued in alphanumerical / numerical order, hence the plate relates only to the date of registration and not it’s place of origin.

Jersey

Jersey registrations start with the letter “J” followed by up to six numbers, issued in numerical order.

New Zealand

Before 2001 all New Zealand registrations had two letters followed by up to four numbers. In 2001 this changed to a three letter and up to three number format. The first two letters being issued alphanumerically, the third being random.

Russia

Registration numbers are set out with one letter followed by three numbers and two more letters. On the extreme right hand side they have the Region Number the vehicle was registered in with the letters RUS and the Russian flag below.

Switzerland

The first two letters indicate which of the 26 Cantons the vehicle was registered in, followed by the Swiss flag, before up to six numbers and finally the attributed Canton Shield.

United States and Canada

Registration numbers, or “Tags”, are issued by each State, Province or Territory, and the appearance of each is frequently chosen to contain slogans, symbols, shapes and colours which are associated with each one. They are normally issued alphanumerically and numerically but the format varies widely throughout, with different numbers of letters and numbers, and sometimes with hyphens between.